Kingston Culture Plan Q&A
Do you have a question regarding the Kingston Culture Plan (KCP)? Please let us know! Contact Colin Wiginton at the City of Kingston (cwiginton@cityofkingston.ca or 613-546-4291 ext. 1357) or Charles Tilden at the Canadian Urban Institute at (ctilden@canurb.com or 416-365-0816 ext. 282).
Questions:
What is the Kingston Culture Plan (KCP)?
How is culture being defined in the context of the KCP?
Why does planning for cultural vitality matter?
Is the KCP a community plan or a corporate plan?
How is the KCP going to be implemented?
What will the KCP cost to implement? And can the City of Kingston afford it?
Answers:
What is the Kingston Culture Plan (KCP)?
A: It is a plan that identifies a vision for cultural vitality in Kingston and how to achieve it.
How is culture being defined in the context of the KCP?
A: The KCP considers culture to be made up of values, vibe, and virtuosity — and the interplay between them. Values are the memories, stories, ideas, and beliefs that you want to tell your children or the world. Vibe is the activity and energy that spills out onto the street — the lived culture of a place that is experienced in local shops, restaurants, patios, public squares and sidewalks. Virtuosity is about seeking excellence in various modes of creative and artistic expression.
Why does planning for cultural vitality matter?
A: Cities around the world are exploring the relationship between cultural vitality, economy, and quality of life. Today, many cities are finding that their wealth is created less through manufacturing and more through the creation of knowledge and ideas. Planning for cultural vitality matters because of the opportunity it brings to improve and enrich the experience of a place.
Is the KCP a community plan or a corporate plan?
A: It's both. The City of Kingston (the corporation) has the mandate to develop the KCP, yet a culturally vibrant city thrives because of the contribution of many players, including individuals and organizations in the community, public, and private sectors. The KCP will only succeed if it is a plan supported by the broad community, including the municipal government.
How is the KCP going to be implemented?
A: The KCP is intended to guide investment, programming, policy development, and actions by various players interested in promoting cultural vitality in Kingston. It is a plan with a 10-year horizon that will include both shorter term recommendations and a longer-term vision.
What will the KCP cost to implement? And can the City of Kingston afford it?
A: Cost will be relevant to some items in the KCP, but certainly not all of them. There are many ways to contribute to cultural vitality through policy, program, and other types of changes that do not have any cost implications. Any actions with a budget implication to the City of Kingston would have to go through the City's standard transparent and public budgeting process.
